Switch for mine railroads



H. W. DAVIS SWITCH FOR MINE RAILROADS Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,192

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb.

gwventoz Hum, T/Z'S 6 r new Nov. 29, 1927.

. H. W. DAVIS SWITCH FOR MINE} RAILROADS 2 Sheets-S'net 2 Filed Feb. 24. 1927 fl M flu Vi Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES HENRY W. DAVIS, OF ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING.

SWITCH FOR MINE RAILROADS.

Application filed February 24,1927. Serial No. 170,668.

This invention relates to switches used on mine railroads where the trips of cars are lowered down an incline or pitch by a rope onto the mine track or onto the siding.

The general object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism which under some circumstances will automatically throw the switch and points so as to open the main line after the trip of cars has passed onto the siding and which will permit cars to pass along the main line through the switch.

A further object is to provide means for automatically locking the switch points in their thrown position with the. main line open for passage and provide means where- ,by this lock will be thrown to its unlocked position either manually or automatically.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein the switch points are thrown to open the main line to passage by means of the rope or cable whereby the cars are lowered down-pitch.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts to appear more fully hereinafter? My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch for mine railroads constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the switch set for the siding; 1

Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the switch in another position;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view on the line k4 of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the hand operating device.

Referring to these drawings A designates the rails of the main track, B the rails of the siding, and C and C the switch points, these rails operating over the ties D. Disposed between theties D and yieldingly engaged with the sw tch points C is a steel plate 10 which extends beneath the rails A and B and beneath both switch points, the switch points merely resting on the plate.- This steel plate carries upon it the roller 11 which is mounted in a plane above the steel plate, the roller being grooved for engagement with the cable by which the cars are lowered and raised.

Attached by a hook 12 to the main rail adjacent the point() is a coiled contractile spring 13 which is connected at its inner end to the plate 10. Engaged with the opposite edge of the plate 19 is a coiled contractile spring 14 whose inner end is connected bya hook 15 or other means to the switch points C. The plate 10 is also provided with two spaced stops 16 and 17 and the outer end of the plate is illustrated as being supported by means of the transverse steel plate 18 attached to adjacent ties D between which ties the plate 10 operates The stop plate 16 constitutes a stop for the point rail C so'that the rail C'may move with the plate 10, when the plate 10 moves to the right in Figure 1, or in other words to the position shown in Figure 2. This stop plate will cause the point C, and therefore the point C, to re turn to the position shown in Figure 1 from the position shown in Figure 2 when the plate 10 is shifted toward the left in Figure 2. The point rails C and C are connected by the'spreaders 19 of any suitable character so that these point rails will move together. Attached to or forming part of the plate 10 is an extension plate 20 which extends beneath the point Qand beneath the rail B and pivotally mounted upon this extension plate 20 is an angular locking latch 21 which 1:

is pivoted at 22 and which carries a roller 23 at its free end which operates between the base and head flange of the rail B. A spring 31 is attached at one end to the rail B and at its other end to'thislatch 21 and acts to urge the roller end ofthe latch inward against the'rail B. The opposite end of this latch 31 is connected to the cable 25 which extends out through the tubular guide 26 to any suitable point as, for instance, to a point above the'switch, and is there provided with a pull cordor' handle portion 27. This cable passes through suitable pulleys in tion of which engages a connecting loop 29 which swingingly engages the outer end of the extension plate 20. This shaft 28 has a handle 80 whereby the shaft may be manually rocked to draw the plate 20 toward the right in Figure 1. Extending across the ties D adjacent the rail B is a steel plate 18" which, with the plate 18, supports the plate 10 for sliding movement.

The operation of this mechanism so far as described is as follows :/Vhenthe trip of cars comes down the pitch or down-grade onto the siding with the points thrown as shown in Figure 1, the hauling rope or cable will catch the roller 11. as the trip gocsin and when the cars are off the straight line and onto the siding the rope will tend to pull sidewise and will pull the roller ll and the plate 10 laterally and the steel plate by its pull on spring 1st will carry with it the points O and C and the spring Ll. The connecting loop 29 will slip laterally over the cranked portion of the shaft or tumbler 28 and the lock 21 will also be carried laterally. The lateral movement of the plate 10 will place the spring 13 under tension. As the plate 10 moves toward the right in Figure 1 the spring 2% will move the free end of the latch 21 inward against the rail so that the latch will be disposed at right angles to the track and against the stop bolt 31. This holds the points for the straight track. l Vhen the trip of cars hoisted out .Of the side track, that is moved back from the side track onto the main track, the flanges of the wheels will press upon the points against the action of the spring l i and the points will open and close as each c: r wheel passes through, that is, the point C (and, of course the point C which is connected to tlie'point C) will move to the left on the plate 10 (see Figure 1) leaving the stop 1-6. "When the trip has been withdrawn from the side track it may be lowered down the straight track and as soon as the last ear of the trip has passed below the points, the cable 27 maybe pulled manually and this will jerk the look off center and spring 14, being .under heavy tension, will pull the points to the left in Figure 2 and throw the switch again for the side track or to the position shown in Figure 1. As the trip of cars comes back again up the main line, the flanges of the car wheels will open the points against the tension of spring 13, which spring is connected to the rail A. The connecting loop 29 slides hack and forth over the crank of the shaft 28 whenever the points C and C are moved to the right in Figure 1 except when the rock shaft 28 is manually turned to drawsthe points over so as .to open passage through the main line. This tumbler or rockshaft {is only operated when the switch .throavn by mistake for the wrong track. Thestop 17 which is riveted or bolted to plate 10, will stop the rope or cable from pulling Dlate 10 too far [to the right while the clip 16 will push the points to the left when {the spring l4 pulls the plate toward the left.

In Figure 6 is illustrated another means able bearings between the ties l) and having the relatively long arm 33 projecting out through a slot 3% in the supporting plate 35. The opposite end of the shaft 32 has a relatively short arm 36 which is connected by a cable 37 to the lock 21, this cable 37 passing over pulleys or other guiding devices. This means of'tripping the lock 21 is intended for a switch where all empties are put on the cable and all loads are brought back to this one switch known as the main landing of all coal ore produced before it is taken outside. The empty cars are hoisted out of the side track or main landing and dropped down the pitch, that is, down the straight track, after the last car or rope car has passed the points, Then the first car going down strikes the arm 33 in the center of the track, shifts it over and the lock will be jerked sidewise and spring 13 will pull the points again for the side track. Of course, in this construction also the trip can run through the switch against the action of the spring 13, as before described. The operation of this mechanism will be obvious from what has gone before.

While I have illustrated certain details of construction and arrangement of parts which I have found to be particularly effective, I do not wish to be limited thereto asit is obvious that many changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. i

I claim 1. A switch for cable operated mine cars including main track rails, side track rails, connectedswitch points therefor, means urging the points to a position to open passage onto the side track, means operated automatically by the passage of atrip of cars onto the side track acting to, shift the points to open the main track, means latching the points in the last named position but allow ing the points to yield to permit the passage of car wheels through the points, and means for releasing the latching means.

2. The combination will main side track rails and switch points and means urging the points to open passage onto the side track rails, of means' for locking the points when shifted in one direction including a member operatirely connected to the points and er;- tending beneath the rails, a latch pivoted on the member andyieldingly urged against the web of the adjacent rail and toward a position at right angles thereto, a stop limit- )j the movement of the latch to this post- .tion, and means for retracting said latch to permit the return of the points to their original positions. I 23. The con'ibination with main rails and side track rails and switch points, of resilient means urgingthe points to open passage to the side track, means for shifting the points to open passage throughthe main track, means for holding the points when so shifted including a plate operatively connected to the points and extending beneath the rails, a latch pivoted upon and movable with said plate and rails and having a free end bearing against'the web of the adjacent rail, means yieldingly urging the free end shift said plate in a direction to cause the points to shift to open passage along the main track rails, means automatically latching the plate, in the last named position, means permitting the points to yield to allow the passage of car wheels through the points,

and means for releasing said latching means.

5. The combination with a main rail, a side track rail and connected switch points, of a member extending beneath the rails and the switch points and having spaced stops on each side of the main rail and adjacent switch point, a spring resisting movement of the member away from the main rail toward the side track rail, a spring urging a point against the inner stop, means acting automatically to shift the plate laterally to open the main track to the passage of a train when atrain has passed upon the side track, means yieldingly locking the points in this position, and means for releasing said locking means to permit the points to return to their initial positions under the influence of said first named spring.

6. The combination with a main rail, a

side track rail and connected switch points, of a member extending beneath the rails and the switch points and having spaced stops on each side of the main rail and adjacent switch point, a spring resisting movement of the member away from the main rail toward the side track rail, a spring urg ing a point against the inner stop, means acting automatically to shift the plate lat-- erally to open the main track to the passage of a train when a train has passed upon the side track, means locking the points in this position, means for releasing said locking means to permit the points to return to their initial positions under the influence of said first named spring, and means for manually shifting the member and points to open the main track for the passage of a train, said means permitting the points to be shifted under the action of said automatic means.

7. The combination with a main rail, a side track rail and connected switch points, of

a member extending beneath the rails and the switch points and having spaced stops on each side of the main rail and the ad jacent switch point, a spring engaging the main rail and said member and resisting movement ofthe member away fromthe main rail, a spring urging one of the points against the inner stop on said member, a cable engaging member. mounted upon the first named member and movable therewith and adapted to be engaged by the cable of a trip of cars after the trip of cars has moved onto the siding and causethe lateral movement of the member and the points against the action of the first named spring, means for automatically locking the first named mem her in its shifted position, and means for releasing said locking means.

8. The combination with a main rail, a side track rail and connected switch points, of a member extending beneaththe rails and the,

switch points and having spaced stops on each side of the main rail and the adjacent switch point, a spring engaging the main rail and said member and resisting movement of the member away from the main rail, a spring urging one of the points against the inner stop on said member, a cable engaging member mounted upon the first named member and movable therewith and adapted to be engaged by the cable of a trip of cars after the trip of cars has moved onto the siding and cause the lateral movement of the member and the points against the action of the first named spring, means for automatically locking the first named member in its shifted position, and means for releasing said locking means, including a'trip mounted adjacent the main line rail and having an arm adapted to be struck by a car travelling on the main line. 9. The combination with a main rail, a side track rail and connected switch points, of a plate extending beneath the rails and the switch points, the plate being mounted for transverse shifting movement and having spaced stops on each side of the main rail and adjacent switch point, a spring engaging the main rail and the plate and urging the inner stop against the adjacent switch point to yieldingly hold it against the main rail, a spring engaged with the switch point and the plate and urging said switch point against said stop, a member mounted upon said plate and adapted to be engaged by the cable of a trip of cars after the trip of cars has passed upon the side track to thereby draw the plate laterally and permit the switch points to be shifted to a position opening passage on the main line through the action of the second named spring, a latch carried by said plate and engaging the side track rail and holding the plate shifted to open the main line to traffic, and means for releasing said latch.

The eemb netio w th e m in P l, e side track rail and conrgected switch points, 01'? a plate extending beneath the rails and t e t h P int t e p e e n ee ied for trzinsterse shitting movemept and heying spaced stops on eggph si de of the 11min rail and adjacent switch oint, a spring e11- see ng he main ei en t e Pl te end urging the inner stop the aidjeeept switch point to yieldingly held it against e m ra a sp ing n d wi h t e Sw h Re ne n the Pleee nd r n eei l switch point against said stop, a me nhe mounted Lipqn said plate z nc} aghlpted to engaged by the cable a trip of cars after he p ei' e e bee peee l el e th side track to thereby drew the plate lete gz l ly and permit the switch points 109 beshifted Pee t n pen ng peeeeie 9, h w n line thrpugh the e c tion 1 the seeped rep ed p a hi p ve-tel y met nte l up sa plate outward 91f the side track rail z r ql eluding an arm ermally disposed at g n acute angle to the ra l and b aring he eagain t, a spr ng u ging ee 4. 1. 1 i to .4 position at right z x lglesjgo the lfl il when the plate is sh te lei e 'elly by e et n f e :3: s eelh ee trip ,c ehle, and means for releasing;

ll. lhe cpmhigation with a main rail, a side track mil z 'r d cbnnected'sWiteh pe ihts, pf 2; member extending beneath the rails @1161 the switch peints and sl igiiirig inevee mer t e lati h ereto, said n e iber'" harriiig SPQLQQQ steps on each sided-the ihgiiir'gil arid gidjzieent switch point, 2; spring resisting moyen ent of said m hihefgfiiigyfrgiin the i gii 2 sprilig n-gihg the iidj'ziclefit Pein eleie l e i t e e r eeeeny disposegl r qller mounted L ppi; the plate epie m be n a e b t 'e' ebl of ie pf cars Whe the ch-s nioy'e ontpthe sidingep d cause the latex-e1nieyemept t the pl'gite awgy ii -p i the main railflhearis 5 fin te} mati ealiy latching the plate in its shifted position when the points he shifted to gigs-L11 the Ill ll lihe te treffignieans" fpr" -1h llnuillfy shifting sa d. plate, s idHh e'zi sp einiiitt the ZlljitOlilj ltiC shiftifig" off the ijlhte, I means i'qr releasing said l at ehii ig hegtri's.

In tes im ny w e e I lie-ewe hffii my sig z itur e.

W- Dewe- 

